WASHINGTON, June 2 — Protests continued in the US capital for a fourth day Monday over the death of George Floyd, with demonstrators flocking to Lafayette Park across from the White House in response to police violence, reported Anadolu Agency.
Many protesters chanted slogans against police violence during the demonstration. Police officers have detained protesters during the demonstration.
Hundreds of protestors defied a 7pm to 6am curfew imposed by Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Ahead of President Donald Trump’s press briefing at the White House, police used tear gas and flash bangs to disperse protestors behind a security barricade at the focal point in the capital.
Intermittent clashes occurred between law enforcers and the protesters.
On Sunday, a group of people looted several businesses and caused damage in the late hours, yet again defying a curfew.
Floyd, 46, was arrested on May 25 after reportedly attempting to use a counterfeit US$20 bill at a store in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Video footage on Facebook showed him handcuffed and cooperating, but police claimed he resisted arrest.
One of the officers, Derek Chauvin, pinned him to the ground and kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
Shortly after, Floyd appeared to lose consciousness, but Chauvin maintained his position on the victim.
He died shortly after being taken to a hospital.
His last words were “I can’t breathe,” which became the slogan of the nationwide protests.
Despite curfews in major US cities, demonstrators took to the streets for the seventh day of protests Monday.
Trump said Monday he is mobilising all federal and local civilian and military resources in response to week-long violent protests.
Speaking at the White House, he described the looting and vandalism during the protests as “domestic terror” and said he has asked every governor to deploy the National Guard “in sufficient numbers that we ‘dominate’ the streets.”
— Bernama
